Arrow Childs mixte restoration

I've actually got some turtle-wax wipes on their way. The plan is to give the whole frame a quick clean to remove the years of dust, oil and dirt covering the frame then work a little harder on the main areas to polish the paint as best as possible, but being more careful around the decals and pinstriping so I don't damage them!

The worst scratches will be polished and sealed with lacquer.

Hope that makes sense?

Yeah, so you're going to polish up the bare metal essentially in some places, then lacquer over it to seal? Basically what they sometimes call a patina around these parts?

Bingo.
Just gonna make the most of what paint is left, not gonna try and touch anything up, just clean and protect...

Front wheel rebuilt, runs smooth and happy, rear hub just needs polishing and greasing. Freewheel polished up nicely and is running nice and smooth after a generous oiling.
Undecided between fabricating a tubular porteur rack or making a small wine/fruit box front rack..

Anyone on here got the skills to ream and retap to 9/16th in return for beer and the gratitude of a small child?
I also tried a test patch of t-cut on the inside of the forks. No pics but it looks promising.

My dad restores vintage bikes and motorbikes and could almost certainly do it. I'll ask him if you like?

Re the back brake, I've a bag o' Weinmann bits and pieces, including some of the extra long 810 caliper arms, if that'd be any use. Not sure if I have the bolts, but you might be able to rebuild them into the existing parts?

Cotter pins succumbed to the power of my mighty lump hammer and handcrafted cotter punch today. Was satisfying but slightly worried that i was twatting it with enough power to destroy the whole frame if I'd missed but all good and no harm done.
BB will come out and go back in tonight hopefully.

It's worrying when you put the coffers back in, especially the thought of mashing the cups and cones in the BB. Careful when you tighten the nuts not to snap them as the metal is deliberately soft. I did this first time around.

Yep^ cotters are all about hammer, ride a bit, then hammer more. Not tightening the nut to pull them.

Re pedal threads, Ed, could you ask Sargent in Finsbury park? Or Ryan @ oak cycles?

what a lovely bunch of people you all are

hub cones and headset parts are currently soaking in jizer.

wut?

This.

what a lovely bunch of people you all are

No *you're * lovely.

I'm a right dick

BB is out, threads cleaned, cups are a little worn but will do the job for this build. Axle is fine.
Headset is regreased and back in, seatpost is shiner but could do with another polish tbh. Stem and bars are back in.
Have dismantled the weird rear brake claw, everything went better than expected. Looks like any old caliper can be butchered to fit it with no issue at all.
Have run out of polish but when I get some more I'll be onto brake levers, front caliper and rear hub.
Hopefully the turtle wax will arrive in the morning and I can finally get cracking on the frame.